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Ocean Spray

Head of Product Development

Ocean Spray, Lakeville, Massachusetts, us, 02347

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Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Head of Product Development! We're a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role - it always comes back to this: we're a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all - and we've been making our own way ever since.

Position Location:

We're all about flexibility! This will be a

hybrid role

based out of our corporate headquarters in Lakeville, MA or our Seaport Boston, MA location with Mondays and Fridays remote.

Are you a visionary product creator who thrives at the intersection of innovation, collaboration, and consumer insight?

Do you have the passion to turn bold ideas into breakthrough products that delight consumers and drive growth? If you're energized by translating consumer needs and marketing strategies into tangible, scalable solutions-and love rolling up your sleeves to bring imagination to life-this is the role for you.

At Ocean Spray, the Head of Product Development leads our Product Development, Culinary, and Sensory teams in creating transformative food and beverage innovations. This role is central to driving top-line growth across global categories, including Beverages, Foods, Ingredients and new verticals for Ocean Spray. You'll also play a key role in optimizing bottom-line performance through strategic formula design and ingredient sourcing across USA, International, and Ingredient business units.

The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with a deep passion for product development and culinary arts, grounded in science and nutrition. You'll inspire cross-functional teams, champion agile development, and foster a sprint mentality to accelerate innovation from concept to commercialization. You bring a strong external lens, leveraging open innovation and strategic partnerships to enhance speed to market. Exceptional communication skills and a consumer-first mindset are essential.

A Day in the Life...

Lead a Cross-Functional Technical Organization : Oversee Product Development (Beverage, Food, Licensing and Breakthrough Innovation), Culinary Sciences, and Sensory teams to deliver innovation with excellence and agility.

Drive Global Growth Initiatives:

Guide development teams in executing key initiatives that fuel top-line and bottom-line growth across global markets.

Champion Executional Excellence:

Ensure flawless execution from benchtop prototyping through to full-scale manufacturing, maintaining quality, consistency, and speed.

Foster a Collaborative Culture:

Build and nurture a high-performing, inclusive team environment that encourages creativity, accountability, and shared success.

Collaborate Cross Functionally:

Effectively collaborate to drive results, strategy and prioritization with cross functional teams such as Process Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Emerging Science & Nutrition, Regulatory Compliance, Food Safety & Quality, Marketing & Marketing Insights, Sales, PMO, Supply Chain & Procurement, Customer Affairs and Finance.

Serve as Strategic R&D Partner:

Act as the primary R&D liaison and thought partner for Beverage and Ingredients Business Units, contributing to strategic planning and innovation roadmaps.

Deliver Financial and Operational Results:

Ensure alignment with budget forecasts and manage resource deployment across Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and Long-Range Plan (LRP) priorities.

Leverage External Innovation Ecosystems:

Identify and engage external partners and resources to accelerate initiatives through open innovation and enhanced speed to market.

Integrate Culinary, Science, and Technology:

Drive product designs that blend culinary artistry with advanced technology, engineering, science, and nutrition to create differentiated consumer experiences.

What We Are Looking For:

Education: MS and/or PhD. Food Science or Food Engineering or related field

Experience: 15+ years CPG industry experience with 5+ years managing teams

Cross Functional Work: Proven ability to work across departments and influence org-wide decisions

Strategic Impact: Experience in shaping business or functional strategy.

Technical: Understanding of the application of food science and nutrition to food and beverage products

Education: Master's Degree (Required)

Work Experience: At least 15 Years of Experience

Annual Salary: $160,800 - $232,760

The base salary range information above serves as a guideline of the position's typical hiring range. We value and appreciate what makes you unique and will consider a variety of factors when determining an offer. These factors include, but are not limited to, your skills and experience, external and internal benchmarks, as well as overall company considerations. Certain positions may be eligible for short-term and long-term incentive rewards. We also offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports all aspects of your health and well-being.

Benefits:

Complete insurance package on Day-1 that includes a plethora of health and wellness programs

Health, Dental and Vision insurance

Health savings account

Flexible spending account

Life and accident insurance

Employee assistance program

Telehealth services

1:1 health coaching

Supportive benefits for all the stages of your life

401(k) with up to 6% Company matching; additional potential discretionary match at year-end

Short-Term Incentive/Performance bonuses

Flexible scheduling options

Vacation pay, up to three weeks of time (pro-rated for your first year of employment)

Holiday pay for 12 holidays

Career development and growth opportunities

Tuition/Education assistance programs

Access to LinkedIn Learning

Scholarship programs for children of employees

Parental leave

Bright Horizons Family Solutions - Back-up care, tutoring, etc.

Adoption assistance

Bereavement leave

Up to $300 fitness reimbursement

Up to $300 massage reimbursement

Employee appreciation events

Employee discounts

Charitable giving

Who We Are:

You might have our iconic cranberry juice in your fridge or have gotten into heated holiday debate about what's better - canned or fresh cranberry sauce. But did you know that the hardworking people growing the superfruit in our products are 700 family farmers that own our cooperative? They entrust us with what is most precious to them to create new and innovative products that will delight consumers and grow this beloved brand today and into the future.

Team members, farmers, consumers and communities alike--we value what makes us unique and strive to connect our farms to families for a better life by living our values:

G rower Mindset - We embrace our grower-owners innovative spirit and heritage through confidence, learning and focus on the future. Sustainable

R esults - Guided by purpose, we are focused on delivering results for our grower-owners. I ntegrity Above All - We are ethical, doing the right thing for our grower-owners, customers, consumers and each other Inclusive

T eamwork - We build diverse and inclusive teams that strengthen our cooperative.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

For MA Applicants - It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. Any employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.